For people around the world who have escaped human trafficking, it can be incredibly hard to get a job.
Jennifer Olson learned of these daunting odds and wanted to make sure everyone is able to make a living, whether they escaped from trafficking or are vulnerable to getting brought into it. That’s why she started the Mosaic Collective!
According to their website, the Mosaic Collective sells fair trade-certified products sourced “from survivors of human trafficking, refugees, people with mental illnesses and disabilities, people transitioning out of homelessness, and other vulnerable individuals.”
As their founder, Jennifer has known she wanted to help human trafficking survivors since she was in high school.
“So I knew I wanted to do something else to help with this, and I started looking into fair trade and sourcing sustainably and saw the importance of that,”she said.
Essentially, the Mosaic Collective supports and carries products from organizations that espouse the old adage, “If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.” In other words, buying fair trade items helps a person and their community in a long-term and sustainable way, rather than providing donations to meet a single immediate need.
In October 2021, the Mosaic Collective opened a physical location in Lynchburg, Virginia, but its products come from all corners of the world, such as India, Kenya, and Haiti.
When you purchase an adorable coffee mug, chic hair clips, stylish jewelry, or fragrant candles from Mosaic Collective, you can rest easy knowing you’re helping the person who made the item feed, clothe, and house themselves and their family!
We admire Jennifer’s dedication to helping this at-risk population! Don’t forget to share her hard work to inspire more fair trade efforts in your community.
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